Naso Tang Hunger Strike

[bevo5]

Hey all - I know this is a popular issue but I'm hoping to just collect some information in one place.

I have had a blonde male about 6in for going on 3 months. He used to eat Nori out of my hand - and just devoured it on the clip. Was super fat. I switched to a new Nori and he just slowly lost interest in it. I noticed today he is pretty skinny and not eating any of it.

I went to the store and got the old Nori and he isn't interested yet. He never eats any of the reef frenzy....and now just swims up to the clip and kind of gives it a nudge then swims off. I've seen him picking at stuff on the ground and he's taken in a bit of Nori in the water column, but he isn't eating enough and is for sure losing weight.

Any ideas on what I could try? Lettuce soaked in Selcon? Zuccini? I dunno.....worried about the guy.

 

[Tahoe61]

Have you ruled out or treated for intestinal parasites?

 

[bevo5]

Here are some tank stats in case that helps:

-Tank has been up about 8 months
-200g
-Mixed reef
-Zero Ammonia/Nitrite
-Nitrate right around 10-15....I'm working on lowering this with a big refugium. I might just start dosing vodka though.

Tanks mates: Female naso (she gives him a bit of trouble but they're usually just swimming together), white tail tang, yellow tang, candy cane hogfish, blue jaw trigger, small yellow tang and tiny hippo tang, yellow coris wrasse, regular clown fish.

 

[bevo5]

Have you ruled out or treated for intestinal parasites?

No - I for sure have not ruled it out...I'm just not sure how likely it is. No other fish seems to have any issues and they all went through a Prazipro QT except the original fish that I tossed in there back in September. Everyone else did at least one round of prazi in QT.

Everyone else is eating and nice and fat.

He's got good color, not really showing any signs of any additional stress. Swims out in open all the time.

I could treat the whole tank with prazi - that's reef safe right? I just don't think he'll eat any food soaked in it....since he's not eating.

 

[Sabellafella]

I was just in the same situation recently, i switched nori and he lost interest in the purple. Doesnt eat reef frenzy, doesnt eat the green or red, but what ive done was cut the purple into little strips and he started to devour it again lol

 

[bevo5]

I've tried the red crinkly algae. I need to go find some red strips. Nobody in the tank likes the crinkly stuff.

He will nibble on things in the water column if someone else breaks off a piece or something. He just isn't that into it and he's for sure getting skinnier. Gonna try to soak some lettuce in selcon today and at least if he likes it. Not going to solve the problem, but might get some food in him.